Spring is setting in after a much longer than usual winter. While most people take advantage of the nicer weather to get outside and be active, some experience lingering, unexplained pain. It is easy for anyone to think pain is due to the aging process, but sometimes it can be attributed to arthritis. May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, so we want to take this opportunity to talk a little more about how to protect your joints.

Though we’ve probably all heard of arthritis, many don’t know exactly what it is. Arthritis is not a single disease, but instead refers to joint pain or disease. In fact, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions.

Arthritis can cause stiffness, swelling and severe joint pain, and lead to a loss of motion and mobility. Many people also don’t realize just how many Americans live with arthritis. It’s a condition that affects about one in four adults overall, and is the nation’s No. 1 cause of disability. That’s equates to over 54 million men and women.

Though you can’t always prevent arthritis, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of getting painful joints as you age.

Exercise andkeep a healthy weight – Obesity causes unnecessary stress on joints. You should stay active and make sure you are taking care of your body. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, being just 10 pounds overweight means the force on your knees increases by 30 to 60 pounds when walking.

Eat fish – Fish can be rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s have a number of health benefits, including reducing inflammation in the body.

Be mindful of your joints – Work to protect your joints from injury. Lift with your knees and hips when picking up objects; don’t use your back. If you sit for long periods at work or home, make sure that your back, legs and arms are well-supported.

See your doctor – As with most diseases and conditions, identifying them early on can be key to getting treatment that can slow the progress of arthritis and preserve mobility.

At ISL communities, we make sure all of our residents are staying active, eating high-quality food, and living fulfilling lives that promote mental and physical health.

Residents scheduled to move in shortly after

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (March 29, 2018) – Construction has begun on Loma Clara Senior Living, a new assisted living community in Morgan Hill that will be managed by Integral Senior Living. SBI Builders broke ground in October 2017 and expects construction to be completed in early 2019, with available move-in starting soon after.

The two-story, Craftsman-style building designed by HPI Architecture will consist of 67 resident units, 25 of which will be specifically for residents with memory care needs, and will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and shared suites. The 42 assisted living units will consist of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The community has been designed around Loma Clara’s core belief that the challenging conditions of an aging brain should be met with a caring, interactive environment.

“Loma Clara will be a wonderful place for residents to be supported and cared for,” said executive director Tim Batton. “Construction has been going great so far, and we are excited to be working with HPI Architecture and Partners in Design.”

The community will have many recreational activities, ranging from entertainment to enrichment. Amenities will include large common areas, lounges, bistro, spa, beauty salon, fine dining, fitness center, movie theater, game room, computer lab and library. Residents will also enjoy an enclosed courtyard with fireplace, dog park, outdoor fountain, barbecue grill, putting green, gardens and walking paths. The interior outdoor courtyard will feature exterior lifestyle spaces with gardens, pathways, putting greens and other outdoor amenities.

Loma Clara will feature the Vibrant Life® activity program, an innovative approach designed for enhancing residents’ lives with components for well-rounded and meaningful experiences, an enhanced dining program that goes beyond the industry’s traditional culinary experience, and the Generations Memory Support Program that focuses on a person-centered culture.

“Integral Senior Living is happy to welcome Loma Clara into our family of excellent senior living communities,” said Collette Valentine-Gray, Integral Senior Living’s CEO and COO. “The thoughtful design of this community is taking every resident need into consideration, and that is our number one priority.”

The showroom will be opening in early April 2018. Pre-leasing deposits are currently being accepted. For more information, call (669) 258-3500.

About Loma Clara

Located at 16515 Butterfield Blvd., Loma Clara is a new senior living community at the southern tip of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area. The two-story, 62,000-square-foot community will consist of studio and one- and two-bedroom residences ranging from 400 square feet to 1,000 square feet, and will feature high ceilings and spacious bathrooms and kitchenettes. For more information, call (669) 258-3500.

About Integral Senior Living

Integral Senior Living (ISL), headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., manages a progressive selection of senior residences to meet the growing needs of today’s aging population. It manages independent, assisted living and memory care properties throughout 18 states. Ranked among the nation’s largest senior living providers, according to Senior Living Executive, ISL is founded on a care philosophy that fosters dignity and respect for residents and promotes their independence and individuality. The dedicated associates at each community are trained to maintain the highest standards of senior care services. For more information about ISL, visit Integral Senior Living’s website, blog and Facebook page.

Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, the sun is out, and the snow is gone. People are spending more time outside and enjoying nature. However, the change in seasons also brings along the boogie man of spring: allergies.

Dealing with allergies can be frustrating, but you can take steps to make sure they don’t ruin your spring.

No matter if you’ve been dealing with allergies your whole life or you’re feeling the symptoms for the first time, doing the following can help you get through the season with as little sneezing as possible!

Wash your hands frequently, and especially after being outdoors. If you’ve been outside for a long time, taking a shower will help wash any allergens away and prevent you from spreading them around your home.

Make sure you’re checking the pollen levels in your area daily. You should try to plan your outdoor activities for when the pollen count is lowest.

It’s not the most fun way to experience the season; but you should avoid opening your windows as much as possible, as it will increase the amount of allergens entering your home or vehicle.

Make sure you eat foods that are known to fight inflammation. Foods that can help combat allergy symptoms include apples, flax seed, ginger, leafy greens, walnuts and anything high in vitamin C.

Talk to your doctor. There are a variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications that could help bring you some much-needed relief.

At all ISL communities, we emphasize an adventurous lifestyle that gets residents outdoors and enjoying all that life has to offer. Itchy eyes and sore throats shouldn’t stand in the way of a beautiful hike or day at the park!

It’s April, and for many, the month brings warmer weather and beautiful spring flowers. For others, April is marked by the always-looming tax deadline, this year coming Tuesday, April 17.

Unfortunately, seniors – because they are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home and/or to have excellent credit – are one of the more vulnerable populations for tax-related scams and fraud schemes.

To protect yourself and your loved ones from being a target, there are a few things the IRS and FBI suggest you look out for. Here are a few key ones.

Telemarketing scams often involve offers of free prizes, low-cost vitamins and health care products, and inexpensive vacations. If you receive a call from someone offering any of these, they are most likely a scammer.

Some scammers pretend to be IRS agents, demanding money for unpaid taxes. To recognize a con artist when you get a call, it’s important to remember that the IRS will never:

Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should be made payable only to the U.S. Treasury, and checks should never be made payable to third parties.

Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.

Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

If you suspect a scam, do not give out any information. Hang up immediately and call 800-366-4484 to report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Following these tips can help you steer clear of danger.

Come tax season, all you should be worried about is what you’re going to spend your refund on!

Who doesn’t like a nice cup of coffee to start the day or a soda with their lunch? While caffeine can provide an often necessary boost of energy, it’s important to remember that it is a stimulant, not a nutrient, and that too much caffeine is unhealthy.

March is National Caffeine Awareness Month and serves as good reminder to always be careful of how much caffeine you are consuming per day. If you’re on a first-name basis with your local barista, it may be time to rethink your daily intake!

According to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for America, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most of the caffeine consumed in the United States comes from coffee, tea and soda.

About 400 milligrams of caffeine a day – or about four cups of coffee – is considered safe for most healthy adults, though you should always keep in mind that caffeine content in beverages varies widely and that caffeine affects each of us differently.

Mixing caffeine with alcohol should always be avoided. Mixing the two may lead to drinking more alcohol and becoming more intoxicated than you realize, increasing the risk of alcohol-related adverse events.

In general, a good rule of thumb is, if you feel jittery or overly restless after drinking a caffeinated beverage, you should stop. Too much caffeine may lead to sleep problems, migraines and other health issues – not to mention coffee breath!

At the heart of each ISL community is our commitment to providing a fun and active lifestyle for all residents. We place special importance on developing entertainment opportunities for residents that emphasize exercise and physical activity.

We do this because we know the key role active recreation plays in the well-being of seniors and in improving their quality of life. ISL’s Vibrant Life® program, designed for enhancing and enriching residents’ lives with well-rounded and meaningful experiences, guides us in our approach.

We create our programs with more than just physical exercise opportunities in mind. We know that residents who stay active and engaged can see remarkable mental, emotional and even spiritual growth. We want our residents to look forward to making each day as energetic and vibrant as possible.

We don’t take this lightly.

The Vibrant Life® program is all about inspiring our residents to be social and adventurous, to take their health seriously, and to realize the benefits of living an active lifestyle.

Each ISL community designs its Vibrant Life® program to specifically meet the wants and needs of its residents. Various outings and activities are offered that allow people to create their own schedules based on their interests, preferences, routines and abilities.

Providing quality, active entertainment options not only makes our communities wonderful places to be, but results in increased resident health and fitness, gives opportunities for socializing, and lets residents use skills and talents developed throughout their lifetime and even learn new skills.

We care deeply about our residents and always want them to feel that they are being treated by associates who truly value who they are as individuals.

The prospect of a big, spacious home is a dream to almost any young family on the hunt to find a space to grow their lives in. However, years later, when the kids have moved out and you’ve passed the age of retirement, this big dream home is now more of a hassle than anything else. Downsizing is a smart move for most seniors because it takes away the burden of having to tend to a house that is no longer truly needed. The benefits of moving into a smaller place are numerous, but the act itself isn’t always easy, especially if you’ve been living in your home for a while.

We here at Integral Senior Living fully support seniors transitioning into a home that’s much more manageable, and we’ve devised a few tips for those wishing to make the move:

Start slow and steady

It’s best to start planning as far in advance as possible. Even if you’re not fully committed to downsizing your home for retirement, you should still come up with a plan in case you find yourself in a situation where the move is necessary, like you or your spouse getting sick. Look into housing options that are both appealing and affordable and start saving money. Having a solid plan will make the process much less stressful if you have to move on a whim and especially easy if you’ve been planning to downsize for a while.

Hire an agent who knows the ropes

Trying to sell your home and search for a new one at the same time is a nightmare for anyone of any age, and we don’t recommend going about it alone. Hire a top real estate agent in San Diego or the surrounding area to help you move. They’ll help you sell your current home and find a new one that’s within your price range and offers amenities suitable for seniors. And, he or she will be someone who you can count on to be there for you during a transition that can be tough.

Be smart about your location

The benefits that come with downsizing are going to be negated if you move into a place in a bad location. If possible, move close to family members or close friends. If that isn’t an option, move into a place where you don’t have to worry about who is going to help you if you’re sick, injured, or unable to do certain day-to-day tasks. A housing community tailored to seniors’ needs, like Integral Senior Living, is an excellent option for those looking for a comfortable home with necessary accommodations.

Downsizing isn’t something that’s easy, and it can be a very emotional process. However, with some proper planning and time management, the move doesn’t have to be too burdensome. If you’re a senior in the San Diego or Carlsbad area, don’t hesitate to consider Integral Senior Living for your next home if downsizing from your house is something you plan on doing.

Integral Senior Living will manage Spring Cypress Assisted Living and Memory Care, a premier senior living community in Cypress, Texas, scheduled to open in April. The Community is owned by MedCore Partners of Dallas-Fort Worth together with The National Realty Group (TNRG) of Houston.

The assisted living and memory care apartments will open in April, and construction on the second phase, which includes 120 independent living apartments, will start in late 2018.

“It is an honor to be able to add a beautiful community like Spring Cypress to our management portfolio,” said Collette Valentine-Gray, Integral Senior Living’s CEO and COO. “Spring Cypress will be another shining example of what makes ISL communities so special: our passion for personalized care and our commitment to providing an active and vibrant lifestyle for residents.”

Spring Cypress will offer studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments for its residents. Amenities include a wellness center, a gorgeous pond with a walking path and gazebo, a pampering salon and barber, a dog park, and theater.

Spring Cypress has a full list of services and amenities that today’s seniors have come to expect, ranging from our Vibrant Life program to our Generations Memory Care program.

With the arrival of a new year comes the opportunity to plan for the future and focus our energy on personal resolutions. Setting personal goals at the beginning of a new year is a wonderful way to inspire change in one’s life.

For seniors, it can be especially important to make resolutions that will provide a better quality of life both now and in the future. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Eat Healthy

The struggle for most people is making sure we make good food choices. Resolve to eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried and fatty foods. Go for fiber-rich foods like whole grain bread, brown rice and whole grain pasta. Choose healthy fats, such as olive and canola oils, and stay away from highly processed food. We developed our award-winning Dining by Design program to help ensure our residents have high-quality, freshly prepared meals each day.

Be Active

Staying active is critical for everyone, and especially as we age. Make a concerted effort to exercise daily. Going for a walk and participating in yoga or water aerobics are all great ways to stay limber, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your balance, posture and mood. Residents are offered fun daily activities to keep you living a vibrant life.

Routine Doctor Visits

Visiting your doctor regularly, not just when you get sick, is something everyone should do. Making sure any medications you’re taking are working properly, getting important screening tests for vision and hearing, and staying up-to-date on any immunizations are crucial to staying healthy. Our communities have highly trained staff to make sure you are receiving the proper medical care you need.

Check in More

Too often, seniors become isolated because of mobility issues. If you know someone who has trouble leaving their house, set dates to visit them throughout the year. Sometimes, just spending a few minutes with a friend or loved one can brighten their day.

We hope everyone makes at least one resolution for 2018 that will result in a positive change in their life. Happy New Year from all of us at Integral Senior Living!

Choosing a senior living community is one of your most important life decisions. Things like location, care services and range of amenities offered are all important details that should be taken seriously before making a decision.

Not all communities are created equal, and each is different in its own way. However, there are a few quality traits that can make a senior living community stand above the rest.

Personalized, Professional Care

A well-trained staff that treats each resident properly is perhaps the most important factor that separates a quality community from a lesser one. A professional staff that cares for the men and women living in their community creates a welcoming atmosphere that can lead to better health and higher quality of life for residents.

Safety

Safety is important when selecting a senior living community. Residents need to feel safe at all times. Are the proper doors always locked? Is someone on duty 24 hours a day? What is the protocol for an after-hours medical emergency? Questions like these matter for residents’ peace of mind.

Friends, Not Neighbors

Residents should feel that they are part of a community, not just sharing space with strangers. A quality community should feel like a club where people interact with one another daily, having fun and forming relationships. That’s why we offer our Vibrant Life® program, designed to optimize health and well-being by promoting a culture filled with joyful experiences, meaningful endeavors, and abundant opportunities to connect with family, friends and the local community.

Activity

Staying active is critical for seniors to keep their minds and bodies engaged. A quality community will have at least one fun activity each day of the week that will get its residents up and moving to stimulate both the mind and body. Communities should also have access to games, sports or other activities residents can enjoy at their leisure. Our Vibrant Life® program emphasizes an active and adventurous lifestyle for residents.

Nutritious, Good-Tasting Food

Communities that care about the food they serve and cook with quality ingredients will keep residents healthy and living the lifestyles they want. Our communities’ culinary directors are committed to providing superior dining experiences for our residents. We source local and regional ingredients when possible, offer varied menu selections and flexible dining schedules, and make meals an occasion to socialize. Dining at your community should feel and taste as though you’re at a quality restaurant.

We hope this list helps you when you start looking for a senior living community. Prepare a list of questions and concerns to address when taking tours. Take the time to explore the entire community, and talk to current residents about their experience. Last, ask if you can attend the community’s next member event.